Born and raised in Colorado, Derrick Morse was exposed to the craft beer scene for as long as he can remember. After graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder and working in marketing for several years, Derrick decided to pursue his passion for home brewing full time.
“Living in the mecca of Denver and Boulder, I was raised around breweries and was continuously inspired by the industry around me,” says Derrick. “It wasn’t until I left my white collar marketing job though that I started seeking out brewing as more than a hobby.”
Starting out in beer sales with Westminster Total Beverage, Derrick quickly moved up in the industry, landing a job as the lead brewer at Twisted Pine Brewing Company in Boulder. In 2013, the opportunity to join Cool Springs Brewery in Brentwood as head of brewery operations ultimately moved Derrick and his family to Tennessee.
Within two years of moving to Franklin and gaining national recognition for his work at Cool Springs Brewery—including earning Great American Beer Fest gold and bronze medals for his recipe for Westbound Braggot—another life-changing opportunity was presented to Derrick: to open a brewery with fellow Franklin resident and celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan of Nashville’s Chauhan Ale & Masala House.
Derrick jumped at the chance, and Mantra Artisan Ales opened in November 2015.
The boutique craft brewery and taproom produces globally-inspired, high-quality craft beers with daring flavor profiles ranging from a classic Belgian-style amber to a unique Indian-inspired milk chai stout. The focus of Mantra is on the creation of beers with distinctive flavor characteristics that are food-friendly and inspire conversation among friends.
While many of the brews on the 24 different taps at Mantra are meant to challenge beer enthusiasts and industry influencers, the beer list also boasts brews that can be enjoyed by all beer aficionados, experts and novices alike.
“The biggest thing we want to relay to people is how accessible our beer is to all beer drinkers,” says Derrick. “We like to experiment with different ingredients and try recipes that seem crazy, and we have people that come in looking to try new things and be challenged and inspired by those kinds of beers.
“On the other end of the spectrum, we also have a great set of beers, like our IPA or Saison, that are perfect for someone who doesn’t have as diverse a palate for beer and just wants to enjoy a really good craft brew.”
Designed with the help of Nashville-based business owner Jeff Estes of 5 String Furniture, the family-friendly taproom at Mantra also offers weekly specials and activities such as the Saturday Morning Yoga Series, Summer Run Club nights, two-for-one pint nights, growler specials and more.
From the home brewer wanting to explore the beers and learn more about brewing to couples with kids in tow looking to get out of the house on the weekend, there’s something for everyone at Mantra.
Mantra Artisan Ales is located at 216 Noah Drive #140. The taproom is open Monday through Thursday from 3-9 p.m., Friday from 3-10 p.m., Saturday from noon-10 p.m. and Sunday from noon-6 p.m. Select Mantra beers can also be purchased at restaurants and retail locations throughout Nashville and Williamson County. For more information, visit mantrabrewing.com.